Genoa-Kingston middle schoolers celebrate medieval times

Published: Friday, May 3, 2013 5:30 a.m. CDT

Player embeded on all DC instances for analytics purposes.

Caption

(Stephanie Hickman - shickman@shawmedia.com)

Genoa-Kingston Middle School sixth-graders Stephanie Cook (from front), Anna Hansen, Brianna Popyk, Dalton Peters, Derek Schlenker and Wyatt Flint compete in a jester relay race Thursday at their annual medieval fair. More than 150 students participated in the fair, which aligns with their recent social studies lessons focusing on the Middle Ages.

The activities were part of the school’s annual medieval fair, a celebration after a month of studying the culture and history of the Middle Ages in the students’ social studies classes. The students were divided into six kingdoms – with names such as Purple Pegasus, Dark Overlords and Medieval Maniacs – and faced off in a tournament. Events included competitions representative of the era, such as log toss, three-legged races, a tug-of-war, a jester relay and a dress-up relay.

Social studies teacher Clayton Johnsen said the medieval fair is part of an interdisciplinary unit that teaches the students more than what they can learn in a textbook.

The children channeled their creativity by making a banner for their respective kingdoms and building catapults in math class.

The friendly competitions teach the students teamwork and sportsmanship, Johnsen said.

Many students, including Rachel Younker, were confident their kingdoms would emerge victorious in Thursday’s tournament.

“I think we have a really good team,” Younker said. “We’re all athletic and try hard at everything we do.”

The winning class received bragging rights and a small trophy that travels among the classrooms every year.

“Right now, it’s in [Mrs. Olle’s] room,” Johnsen said. “So we’re all trying to get it back from her.”